[Footnote 14:  Peck.  Life of Boone.]

[Footnote 15:  McClung.  “Western Adventures.”]

[Footnote 16:  Ornithological Biography, pp. 293-4.]

CHAPTER V

Arrival of Squire Boone and a companion at the camp of Daniel Boone—­Joyful meeting—­News from home, and hunting resumed—­Daniel Boone and Stuart surprised by the Indians, Stuart killed—­Escape of Boone, and his return to camp—­Squire Boone’s companion lost in the woods—­Residence of Daniel Boone and Squire Boone in the wilderness—­Squire returns to North Carolina, obtains a fresh supply of ammunition, and again rejoins his brother at the old camp—­Daniel Boone’s own account of this remarkable period of his life—­His return to North Carolina—­His determination to settle in Kentucky—­Other Western adventurers—­The Long hunters—­Washington in Kentucky—­Bullitt’s party—­Floyd’s party—­Thompson’s survey—­First settlement of Tennessee.

In the early part of the month of January, 1770, Boone and Stuart were agreeably surprised by the arrival of Squire Boone, the younger brother of Daniel, accompanied by another man, whose name has not been handed down.  The meeting took place as they were hunting in the woods.  The new-comers were hailed at a distance with the usual greeting, “’Holloa! strangers, who are you?” to which they answered, “White men and friends.”  And friends indeed they were—­friends in need; for they brought a supply of ammunition, and news from Daniel Boone’s home and family on the Yadkin.  They had had a weary journey through the wilderness, and although they had met with no Indians on their way, they had frequently come upon their traces in passing through the woods.  Their purpose in undertaking this formidable journey had been to learn the fate of Boone and his party, whose safety was nearly despaired of by his friends in North Carolina, to hunt for themselves, and to convey a supply of ammunition to Boone.  It is difficult to conceive the joy with which their opportune arrival was welcomed.  They informed Boone that they had just seen the last night’s encampment of Stuart and himself, so that the joyful meeting was not wholly unanticipated by them.

Thus reinforced, the party, now consisting of four skillful hunters, might reasonably hope for increased security, and a fortunate issue to their protracted hunting tour.  But they hunted in separate parties; and in one of these Daniel Boone and Stuart fell in with a party of Indians, who fired upon them.  Stuart was shot dead and scalped by the Indians, but Boone escaped in the forest, and rejoined his brother and the remaining hunter of the party.

A few days afterward this hunter was lost in the woods, and did not return as usual to the camp.  Daniel and Squire made a long and anxious search for him; but it was all in vain.  Years afterward a skeleton was discovered in the woods, which was supposed to be that of the lost hunter.